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An investigation into heroin dealing has led to arrests of people associated with a local gang called The Dixie Homes Murda Squad, authorities said in a news conference Monday.

The investigation started in April when officers with the Memphis Police Organized Crime Unit noticed a large number of heroin and fentanyl overdoses occurring around and near the city's medical center, police director Michael Rallings said.

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Fentanyl is an opiate that drug dealers are mixing with heroin, and authorities have linked it to numerous deaths.

Investigators did undercover drug buys from several suspects, Rallings said at a news conference at the OCU building near Riverside Drive.

A total of 25 people were indicted on drug charges by a grand jury, including some who police consider gang members as well as some non-gang members. Ten of those 25 were arrested last week, 15 are still at large, and some other people were arrested on other charges during the operations.

Heroin and other drugs were seized, said Rallings and Shelby County District Atty. Amy Weirich.

The Dixie Homes Murda Squad is named after an old housing project north of the medical district that was torn down and replaced with the more upscale Legends Park development, which celebrated its grand opening in 2010.

The gang is also the target of a 2014 injunction that among other things allows police to arrest gang members who associate together in public. "In fact, some of the individuals named in that gang injunction are some of the same individuals indicted in this very lengthy, comprehensive, comprehensive, high-level indictment," District Atty. Gen. Amy Weirich said.

The area around the former Dixie Homes housing project is still seeing significant crime. At least six people have been shot by a corner store this year at Merriwether and Decatur by the medical district, police said. The store is a short distance from the Memphis VA Medical Center.

It's unclear if the people indicted have anything to do with several shootings near the medical center this year. "It possibly could be, but again, whatever crime looks like, we're coming after it," Rallings said.

Among those indicted and arrested was Demarqual D. Jackson, age 32.

The Organized Crime Unit conducted a search warrant targeting him at a home on Laurel Downs in Raleigh and seized more than $31,000 in cash, according to an arrest affidavit.

The police also reported finding items including two digital scales, sandwich bags and an unknown white powder. He faces various drug charges. Police don't describe him as a gang member.

All told, the authorities seized five guns and about $200,000 from various individuals, according to a news release. The police seized about 2.5 kilograms of heroin, or about 5 pounds, eight ounces. The police also found 2 ounces of cocaine, and 1 ounce of marijuana.

The drugs seized likely represent a tiny fraction of illegal drugs entering the U.S. and circulating within it.

For instance, the Coast Guard announced in a San Diego news conference this fall that its west coast units had seized 50,550 pounds of cocaine and heroin during a period of slightly more than six weeks in August and September. That's more than 25 tons.

Reach reporter Daniel Connolly at 529-5296, daniel.connolly@commercialappeal.com, or on Twitter at @danielconnolly.